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s p l a t » Blog Archive » The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner’s Semester at America’s Holiest University
I have always cared a lot about what people outside the church think about Christians and the Church.
Certainly a few people have disliked Christian things from the womb, but most I have talked to have specific events in their lives that have shaped the way they feel about Christians and the way they feel about the church.
Unfortunately, most have had hurtful or negative experiences–hence the reason they have distanced themselves.
I think we have a lot to learn from these folks, and many of us can emphasize with them about some of the shortcoming of the church and Christians in general.
Opening up the dialogue is a crucial first step toward understanding. It also helps us share a gospel that is truly good news–one that is meaningful and is in touch with real life.
I think many people outside the church don’t know a “normal” devoted believer.
I think that when people outside the church get to know someone (a co-worker, a teammate, a neighbor, etc) that is devoted to her faith and not afraid to live in normal life, it makes a tremendous impact. I think believers have to gain the respect of non-believers by proving they don’t just swim in a “weird Christian sub-culture pool” but rather they can relate to and live in real life.
After all, we want the gospel to make sense to people–it is meant to be meaningful right where they are.
This article was super! I especially loved the following:
“I loved the people I met there. I think they were some of the nicest, most genuine college students in America. They still to this day call me, text me, Facebook message me, and we’re good friends. The book is full of things I liked about Liberty: their emphasis on community, the sense that this is the body of Christ and they’re all in this together. In the secular world and secular colleges we try to build up a spirit of individuality, and that’s great, but there’s something about the group experience. Emile Durkheim, who is a French philosopher, called it “collective effervescence”—a feeling you can only get when you’re surrounded by other people and you’re collectively striving toward the same goal.”
Isn’t that what the church should be like? “genuine” “emphasis on community” “all in this together” “collectively striving towards the same goal.”
I’m so glad the author was affected that way. Makes me think my actions speak louder than my words!
Paul Gray
I would think there is a certain longing for this collective effevescence in all people — it is encouraging to hear someone outside the church express a desire for this.
In a post-modern society I think there is a phenomenon where one may want to belong before one believes. Essentially, a person becomes a part of a community and then begins to assimilate the values of that community. It seems a little time-consuming and outside of the evangelical box–we often like to convert people quickly and then invite them to our potluck.
I think it is a process worth pursuing - where we invite regular people into our “real” lives - where we are hopefully already doing “real” community. And hopefully as people experience this true collective comradely, the gospel simply spills out and then when it does we can use words to explain what we have already been sharing in action.
link to article
June 5th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
I have always cared a lot about what people outside the church think about Christians and the Church.
Certainly a few people have disliked Christian things from the womb, but most I have talked to have specific events in their lives that have shaped the way they feel about Christians and the way they feel about the church.
Unfortunately, most have had hurtful or negative experiences–hence the reason they have distanced themselves.
I think we have a lot to learn from these folks, and many of us can emphasize with them about some of the shortcoming of the church and Christians in general.
Opening up the dialogue is a crucial first step toward understanding. It also helps us share a gospel that is truly good news–one that is meaningful and is in touch with real life.
June 18th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
I think many people outside the church don’t know a “normal” devoted believer.
I think that when people outside the church get to know someone (a co-worker, a teammate, a neighbor, etc) that is devoted to her faith and not afraid to live in normal life, it makes a tremendous impact. I think believers have to gain the respect of non-believers by proving they don’t just swim in a “weird Christian sub-culture pool” but rather they can relate to and live in real life.
After all, we want the gospel to make sense to people–it is meant to be meaningful right where they are.
June 23rd, 2009 at 3:51 pm
This article was super! I especially loved the following:
“I loved the people I met there. I think they were some of the nicest, most genuine college students in America. They still to this day call me, text me, Facebook message me, and we’re good friends. The book is full of things I liked about Liberty: their emphasis on community, the sense that this is the body of Christ and they’re all in this together. In the secular world and secular colleges we try to build up a spirit of individuality, and that’s great, but there’s something about the group experience. Emile Durkheim, who is a French philosopher, called it “collective effervescence”—a feeling you can only get when you’re surrounded by other people and you’re collectively striving toward the same goal.”
Isn’t that what the church should be like? “genuine” “emphasis on community” “all in this together” “collectively striving towards the same goal.”
I’m so glad the author was affected that way. Makes me think my actions speak louder than my words!
Paul Gray
June 26th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
I would think there is a certain longing for this collective effevescence in all people — it is encouraging to hear someone outside the church express a desire for this.
In a post-modern society I think there is a phenomenon where one may want to belong before one believes. Essentially, a person becomes a part of a community and then begins to assimilate the values of that community. It seems a little time-consuming and outside of the evangelical box–we often like to convert people quickly and then invite them to our potluck.
I think it is a process worth pursuing - where we invite regular people into our “real” lives - where we are hopefully already doing “real” community. And hopefully as people experience this true collective comradely, the gospel simply spills out and then when it does we can use words to explain what we have already been sharing in action.